General Motors has begun pushing the Vauxhall Ampera in Britain and is currently in discussions with potential fleet customers. According to GM, there is a significant amount of interest from government agencies and public companies. The Ampera will be launched in a Vauxhall-badged righthand drive version in the UK in 2012, the same year that the Olympics come to London.

GM-UK spokesman Denis Chick spoke with just-auto about the upcoming release of the Ampera and about consumer interest in the vehicles and said:

We'll start off with fleet demonstrators. But we are already picking up plenty of interest from potential fleet customers. The fact that the right-hand drive car goes on sale in the UK in 2012 - the year of the next London Olympics - is also highly significant in terms of visibility for some fleets.

One of the largest groups to show interest in the Ampera is none other than London's Metropolitan Police Force. Chick hinted at a possible announcement of a big deal with the London police coming later this year. Timing the Ampera to arrive as the Olympics roll into town is important. With London as the center of attention, the Ampera will be there to share the spotlight.